As more states reopen amid the Corona virus, lawmakers are examining the state of testing in the U. S. There is no safe path forward combat the novel Corona virus without adequate testing, figures show the US lags behind South Korea and other countries in testing per capita, public health officials say. In order to ramp things up, improvements need to be made. We need tests that don't require hours or days to determine results. The new types of tests need to be sensitive enough to flag asymptomatic individuals. The National Institutes of Health says it's looking to develop public private partnerships aimed at producing wide scale testing the processes in the early stages. But officials are optimistic they'll find a reliable product soon. But Democrats say testing alone isn't enough. And what more leadership. They've called on the president to come up with a national testing strategy. The president should roll up his sleeves and get to work on testing. Administration officials say testing needs to be strategic and focused on vulnerable populations. The notion that everyone needs to be tested is just simply nonsensical. Health officials say testing now is essential to preventing a second wave

U.S. health regulators approved the first saliva-based coronavirus test that allows people to collect their own sample at home.The new at-home option is expected to expand use of the test developed by Rutgers University, which the Food and Drug Administration first authorized last month.With the new saliva-based test, patients are given a plastic tube into which they spit several times. They then hand the tube back to the health care worker for laboratory processing.“This prevents health care professionals from having to actually be in the face of somebody that is symptomatic,” said Andrew Brooks, who directs the Rutgers lab that developed the test.The test will be available through a New Jersey network of hospitals and testing sites affiliated with Rutgers. Initially, the government limited the test to health care facilities and testing sites with professional supervision.“Authorizing additional diagnostic tests with the option of at-home sample collection will continue to increase patient access to testing for COVID-19," said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn. “We will continue to work around the clock to support the development of accurate and reliable tests, as we have done throughout this pandemic."Wide-scale testing is considered essential to containing the spread of COVID-19 and safely reopening businesses and schools. But many states are still struggling to reach the testing levels recommended by health experts.

U.S. health regulators approved the first saliva-based coronavirus test that allows people to collect their own sample at home.

The new at-home option is expected to expand use of the test developed by Rutgers University, which the Food and Drug Administration first authorized last month.

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With the new saliva-based test, patients are given a plastic tube into which they spit several times. They then hand the tube back to the health care worker for laboratory processing.

“This prevents health care professionals from having to actually be in the face of somebody that is symptomatic,” said Andrew Brooks, who directs the Rutgers lab that developed the test.

The test will be available through a New Jersey network of hospitals and testing sites affiliated with Rutgers. Initially, the government limited the test to health care facilities and testing sites with professional supervision.

“Authorizing additional diagnostic tests with the option of at-home sample collection will continue to increase patient access to testing for COVID-19," said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn. “We will continue to work around the clock to support the development of accurate and reliable tests, as we have done throughout this pandemic."

Wide-scale testing is considered essential to containing the spread of COVID-19 and safely reopening businesses and schools. But many states are still struggling to reach the testing levels recommended by health experts.